In the AFC Championship Game loss to the Ravens, Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker had eight catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. Looking solely at the box score, you'd figure it was a good outing. But Welker, whose dropped pass in last year's Super Bowl left the door open for a Giants comeback, had two drops Sunday night, the biggest coming early in the third quarter.
The Ravens scored on their next offensive possession and went on to outscore New England 21-0 in the second half.
After the game, Welker's wife, Anna Burns Welker, took to Facebook to support her husband -- and take a few shots at Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, who will retire after the Super Bowl (via the Baltimore Sun).
"Proud of my husband and the Pats," Welker wrote on her Facebook page. "By the way, if anyone is bored, please go to Ray Lewis' Wikipedia page. 6 kids 4 wives. Acquitted for murder. Paid a family off. Yay. What a hall of fame player! A true role model!"
Then Welker did what people in such situations invariably do: Apologize for their momentary lapse in judgment.
"I'm deeply sorry for my recent post on Facebook," she said in a statement sent to Larry Brown Sports. "I let the competitiveness of the game and the comments people were making about a team I dearly love get the best of me.
"My actions were emotional and irrational and I sincerely apologize to Ray Lewis and anyone affected by my comment after yesterday's game," she continued. "It is such an accomplishment for any team to make it to the NFL playoffs, and the momentary frustration I felt should not overshadow the accomplishments of both of these amazing teams."
After the Pats lost to the Giants in the Super Bowl last year, Tom Brady's wife, Gisele Bundchen, was outspoken about how the game unfolded -- and Welker's role in the outcome.
“You (have) to catch the ball when you’re supposed to catch the ball,” she snapped at heckling Giants fans shortly after the final whistle. “My husband cannot (bleeping) throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time. I can’t believe they dropped the ball so many times.”
Silver lining: Neither Gisele nor Anna will have to worry about their husbands being heckled during Super Bowl XLVII.
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